Perspective of Discipline and Obedience

MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY ESSAY 10/06/06 RADEN DAVIS

Explain the relationship between discipline and obedience from the Montessori perspective and discuss how discipline and obedience are linked to the development of the will.

The word 'discipline' has a harsh connotation in today's society. It conveys images of strict teachers with canes and authoritarian figures laying down the law. It is something enforced by external forces and maintained by fear of repercussions or punishment. But this kind of forced discipline only appears from the outside to be effective. Rather like a regiment of soldiers on parade. It is really a form of acting on the part of the submissive child to play by the rules and to either be rewarded for this or to be punished for doing the opposite. This is sadly is a serious deviation from the natural way of life.

In this essay I intend to write about how discipline and obedience play a vital role in the making of a person, and how both these virtues are related in the development

Is this essay helpful? Join OPPapers to read more and access more than 470,000 just like it!

get better grades

of the will.

Discipline from the Montessorian perspective is not something external but growing from within the individual. A disciplined child is a free individual able to make choices for him or herself. It is a natural law of life that is an on going process dependent on personal freedom. It cannot be taught through words but by action.

'Discipline is therefore attained indirectly, that is, by developing activity in spontaneous work.' (M.Montessori, (1948) The Discovery of The Child')

It is commonly thought that obedience follows after the will of the individual is broken. Montessori believed however that the will and the obedience of the child go hand in hand. It is not a case of breaking the will but letting it develop naturally. If you have one you must have the other; the will to be obedient.